Dick Smith’s complaints about TV networks banning his Australia Day ad appear to have paid off, with reports Seven and Ten will air the spot.
Yesterday Smith bemoaned the PG rating given to the TV ad for his Aussie made food products, created for $10,000 by comedian Dan Ilic, which he thought would stop it being aired during the evening news slots.
Some had speculated the controversial 60-second ad, posted on YouTube yesterday, was always designed to be banned as an attempt to go viral. So far it has had 101,000 views.
However, because Australia Day falls on Saturday the restrictions for U adverts finish at 10am, meaning it can be shown.
But Channel Nine has said it will still refuse to show the ad, which is chock full of ‘Dick’ jokes, and showing Smith handing out his goods to boat people as they arrive in Australia.
Ilic claimed yesterday there was a $100,000 ad spend behind the spot, which is set to air during the 6pm bulletin on Seven and on Ten.
Smith is quoted in The Australian today as saying: "I have a contract (with Nine), I've booked the ads, and they've actually sent us an email that … it will be delete and charge, in other words, if we can't come up with another ad, they're going to delete it and charge us."
